Nashua man pleads guilty in fatal crash

KEENE — A Nashua man accused of causing a fatal crash in Walpole last year plead guilty to negligent homicide in Cheshire County Superior Court in Keene Wednesday.

The driver, 26-year-old Mathew Flynn, also plead guilty to reckless conduct and simple assault. Several people were injured in the Sept. 22 crash.

Flynn was traveling on Route 12 in Walpole just north of Blackjack Crossing Road in northbound Subaru Forester, when the Subaru crossed into the southbound lane and collided with a southbound Toyota RAV-4, driven by Marguerite Lucas, 64, of Springfield, Vt.

A passenger in the Subaru, John Herczeg, 43, of Hudson, was killed in the head-on collision.

Flynn pleaded guilty to two felonies, negligent homicide — driving under the influence — and reckless conduct with a deadly weapon. He also pled guilty to a misdemeanor, simple assault.

According to the negligent homicide charge, Flynn tested positive for several drugs including marijuana, cocaine, opiates and amphetamines shortly after the crash.

As part of the plea agreement an additional negligent homicide charge and an aggravated driving under the influence charge were dropped.

In court Wednesday Judge John Kissinger sentenced Flynn to no less than two and no more than six years in prison. On the reckless conduct charge he was given a suspended sentence of two and half to five years in prison. He was also sentenced to one year in the county jail on the misdemeanor charge.

Flynn was flown by helicopter to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon and Lucas was taken by ambulance to Springfield Hospital in Springfield, Vt.

Another Nashua man, who was a passenger in Flynn’s car was also injured in the crash and flown by helicopter to UMASS Medical Center in Worcester, Mass.

Soon after the crash Flynn was arrested at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and charged with negligent homicide.